Recently at a Los Angeles Penn event, I bumped into Penn alum Rob Golenberg (W'87, ZBT). Rob has been in the Hollywood biz now for over 20 years now and is currently the VP and Head of TV Literary and Packaging at the Gersh Agency. (I've known about Rob for years now because some Penn friends have had great experiences working for him.)
As you've seen in many of the Hollywood alumni I cover on DT, no one person's path is the same. In Rob's case, he made a big career change early on in his career to Hollywood and has had quite an interesting journey since!
After the jump, learn more about Rob's path from Penn to Hollywood agent and his solid advice to anyone looking to becoming an agent or getting into the entertainment business.
A must read for any Penn alum or undergrad looking to go Hollywood!
Showing posts with label Pennalicious Profile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pennalicious Profile. Show all posts
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A couple of weeks ago we met aspiring LA TV writer Rob Forman (W'06) and he told us about his journey from Penn to LA, the agency he first worked at, and the TV shows on which he's been a writer's assistant.
In today's installment, Rob talks to us about the steps he's taking from being an aspiring TV writer to a "paid" writer. (Note the Rob's masterful use of "air quotes" throughout the video : ) )
After the jump, listen to Rob talk about:
- "spec scripts" and which TV shows he has written spec scripts for
- what to do once you have finished a spec script
- what has "fallen out of fashion" in terms of writing TV scripts
- which popular writing competitions he has submitted to ...which you should as well! (and which one he was a finalist in!)
- what he's working on now
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
As you've seen on DT, I continue to focus on juicy alumni journeys in entertainment. To recap, we've covered journeys in acting (from a guy's and girl's perspctive), music, TV and Film production and TV writing. And we even have advice on how to use DT in your entertainment career search.
Today, I've got an interesting tale about a 2010 grad who got a good taste of working in one of my favorite daily television shows and is now changing careers and changing coasts for a career in law. All with the plan of hopefully returning to entertainment one day.
This is "entertainment"/"law" path is a common one that I've seen over the years , but wanted to highlight it as there will continue to be Penn graduates who will contemplate this decision.
After the jump, find out about Corey Singer (C'10, Penn Players (Chair ’09-’10), Penn Singers, Quadramics) and...
- his path from Penn to working in an entertainment career
- which NY based show he worked on (hint: see headline and picture above : ) ) and his unique(!) responsibilities on the show
- his career advice
- and where he sees himself in 10 years!
Read More......
Thursday, July 14, 2011
As we approach year 5 of DT, I continues to expand our arsenal of entertaining "insider-tip"-filled vlogs from Penn undergrads and alumni as they pursue the ups and downs of their entertainment career journeys:
- Alex taught us the 5 tips any actor should consider before getting into the business.
- We've been following Jess as she's shown us the ups and downs of the acting business.
- Ben and Blake taught us that sometimes we need to make choices when it comes to pursuing our passion.
- And Kelly gave us the scoop on what you need to know about moving to LA regarding housing and transportation.
Today, we now add Rob, another Penn personality to our mix of vloggers.Rob Forman (W'06) has been out here in LA for the past 5 years pursuing television writing, and is beyond just starting out in the business.
After the jump, watch Rob as he talks about his journey from Penn to LA, the agency he first worked at, and the TV shows on which he's been a writer's assistant.
I've known Rob for a while now and he remains passionate about TV and passionate about writing. And as we know, passion is a common thread of many of our successful alumni.
Read More......
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
As my DT readers know, I've got tons of stories about established Penn alumni musicians, filmmakers, actors, plus dozens more entertainment professions.
I've even begun covering stories about new young alumni trying to break into entertainment careers such as acting, more acting, and music.
What I haven't covered are undergrads getting summer internships who are trying to break into the business.
This summer, our "15 second clip" campus correspondent Kelly Diamond (C'13) is out in LA and has secured not one, but two GREAT entertainment internships in TV and film at a production company and a studio.
After the jump, get some quick dish from Kelly on:
- how she researched getting these internships
- what you need to know about moving from Penn to LA and how to prepare for housing and transportation
- what responsibilities she has at these internships and the great people she's meeting
Read More......
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Not only had Penn alum Schatar Sapphira (Arts House Resident, Inspiration, Penn Black Arts League, Penn Gospel Choir, Penn basketball manager) made it to the final six of Penn alum Mark Cronin's (ENG'86) "Flavor of Love
" and soonafter appeared on "Charm School", but she has created quite the career for herself and certainly knows how to market herself!As another Penn actor put it, you have to "own it" and be the CEO of yourself.
Schatar is the living, breathing embodiment of this! And she knows it : )
(A lot) More from Schatar, how much she "loves balls" (you gotta hear this), and her achievements after the jump!
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
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| (l to r): Greg Milken (C'95) and Seth Gerson (C'95) |
Years after being Penn freshmen roommates in the Quad and then later as housemates on Chancellor Street, Seth Gerson (C'95, ZBT) and Gregory Milken (C'95) formed a technology gaming company with a hot facebook game you'll want to check out done in conjuntion with a popular Las Vegas hotel!
More about their game and very Penn-centric company after the jump!
Read More......
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Yes, A Penn Alum Wrote "Hot Tub Time Machine" and Another Penn Alum Helped Produce It (and it's awesome!)
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| Josh with John Cusack |
The film is about 4 friends who travel back to the 80s after they discover that their ski resort hot tub ends up being a time machine.
Sounds pretty brilliant to me! Can't wait to see it!
After the jump, learn more about:
- how the movie got made
- where Josh would be at Penn if he took the hot tub back to the year 2000
- and what other Penn alum produced this film!
Read More......
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Did you see last week's episode of "Ugly Betty"? If you didn't, it was packed full of Penn!
As I was watching the credits, I noted that not only was Penn alum actress Becki Newton (C'00) featured but also Penn alum Andy Wolk (C'70, DP, 34th Street) directed this episode! ...Then just last night Debbie Frank (C'93) emailed in to let me know that actress Jill Abramovitz was featured in the episode as well.
I emailed Andy and he gave me some scoop from his time on the set...including the day the show got cancelled and the groundbreaking kissing scene...
More about Andy and some inside dish after the jump!
Read More......
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
In November of 2008, after the passage of Proposition 8 in California, one very inspirational (and good looking!) Penn alum decided to become quite the activist and model in all regards...
Read More......
Friday, July 31, 2009
Those who succeed in Hollywood, are those that are in it for the long haul.
Case in point: Jonathan London (C'01, WQHS Radio, The Hollywood Club)
After film school, Jonathan stuck to his guns, got to know the right people and created really well produced films you'll want to see. Pay attention to this guy Hollywood alumni...he's doing some really good films...
CLICK HERE to learn how did Jonathan got his start, what led to his success and watch two professionally produced short films of his you will love. (hint: if you love stories having to do with being single and/or love Ninja comedies, then you'll love these!)
How did Jonathan get his start?
Per Jonathan,
"After graduating from Penn in 2001 I entered the Film MFA program at Columbia. I had been accepted to Columbia and USC but ultimately chose Columbia for their approach to self-financing your film, the faculty they had on staff and their support for owning your own film. I was a fan of the directors coming out of the school and I don't think other schools could compete with recent grads like James Mangold, Kimberley Pierce and Greg Mottola (to name a few). A lot of other schools had more storied reputations but I was excited for what was currently going on at the school.Stay tuned this fall when DT announces another big endeavor Jonathan has been working on!
I left in 2003, moved to L.A. and shot a film for school called Gay By Dawn (featured in Pennfest 2006 - program HERE, photos HERE). It was a comedy horror short and it played really well at festivals for about two years. I knew it played well with festival audiences because it was weird, but just kept sending it to any festival that would take it and was shocked that it lived so long.
At the same time, I was working as a PA runner for a few different film companies. One of the companies was Fox Television Studios and I made friends with the assistants and gave them copies of my movie. About two years after THAT, the assistants had moved up the ranks and were now executives and needed to bring in projects of their own to develop. Luckily, any DVD that reads "Gay By Dawn" in big letters really stands out on a shelf so I got some calls and pitched my series ideas.
The one that really struck a chord was "Singledom", which I think is pretty relatable for people a few years out of college who are lost in the post-grad limbo.
I wrote and directed a presentation for "Singledom" and while that went through sales pitches and further development the studio asked me to take a look at a project they had called "When Ninjas Attack". My geeky enthusiasm and ridiculous knowledge of old ninja and kung fu movies made it a pretty good fit and a few weeks later the scripts were written and I was directing the six episodes that are being released this summer."
HOT TIP!: Get some of Jonathan's great tips HERE and learn about a great free screenwriting tool he's using that I didn't even know about until he mentioned it!
More posts from my "Penn's REEL deals" series
More of my Funny Friday posts
Read More......
Thursday, July 23, 2009
How did he get his start?
Per Scott,
"After graduation, I was hired as a development executive at Tribeca Productions. As much as I enjoyed reading scripts, I never lost the desire to write one of my own. It took a while but eventually I teamed up with my friend Weber and started writing."
And how did he go from writing scripts to actually getting the film made?
Per Scott,
"It was a long and arduous journey. first, i had to get over my fear of being made fun of for writing such a personal (read: autobiographical) story. When i finally showed it to some friends, the reaction was very positive and the script managed to get us representation. ...but when our reps sent it out to the studios, everyone really liked it -- but no one bought it. Six months later, Fox Searchlight stepped up and agreed to option it. Still we never thought anything would happen. But once they found our great director Marc and got Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Zooey (Zooey Deschanel) interested, it took off from there. The whole thing was very surreal and unbelievable. I think we're still waiting for an official greenlight."
I have a general rule when it comes to movie reviews. If Owen Gleiberman or Lisa Schwarzbaum from "Entertainment Weekly" likes a film, so typically do I. And Owen gave "500 Days of Summer" an "A"! (Scott pictured on right in black shirt standing next to his writing partner Michael H. Weber)That said, the film is told out of sequence, winding backwards and forwards through the 500 days of a very tumultuous relationship between these two people. Per Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman, "It's a Gen-Y Annie Hall made by a new-style Wes Anderson who uses his cleverness for humanity instead of postmodern superiority."
Per the film's website, the story is as follows...
Click to Expand +/-
"This is a story of boy meets girl, begins the wry, probing narrator of (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, and with that the film takes off at breakneck speed into a funny, true-to-life and unique dissection of the unruly and unpredictable year-and-a-half of one young man's no-holds-barred love affair.
Tom, the boy, still believes, even in this cynical modern world, in the notion of a transforming, cosmically destined, lightning-strikes-once kind of love. Summer, the girl, doesn't. Not at all. But that doesn't stop Tom from going after her, again and again, like a modern Don Quixote, with all his might and courage. Suddenly, Tom is in love not just with a lovely, witty, intelligent woman – not that he minds any of that -- but with the very idea of Summer, the very idea of a love that still has the power to shock the heart and stop the world.
The fuse is lit on Day 1 – when Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a would-be architect turned sappy greeting card writer encounters Summer (Zooey Deschanel), his boss's breezy, beautiful new secretary, fresh off the plane from Michigan. Though seemingly out of his league, Tom soon discovers he shares plenty in common with Summer. After all, they both love The Smiths. They both have a thing for the surrealist artist Magritte. Tom once lived in Jersey and Summer has a cat named Bruce. As Tom muses, "we're compatible like crazy."
By Day 31, things are moving ahead, albeit "casually." By Day 32, Tom is irreparably smitten, living in a giddy, fantastical world of Summer on his mind. By Day 185, things are in serious limbo -- but not without hope. And as the story winds backwards and forwards through Tom and Summer's on-again, off-again, sometimes blissful, often tumultuous dalliance it covers the whole dizzying territory from infatuation, dating and sex to separation, recrimination and redemption in a whirl of time jumps, split screens, karaoke numbers and cinematic verve – all of which adds up to a kaleidoscopic portrait of why, and how, we still struggle so laughably, cringingly hard to make sense of love... and to hopefully make it real. "
Tom, the boy, still believes, even in this cynical modern world, in the notion of a transforming, cosmically destined, lightning-strikes-once kind of love. Summer, the girl, doesn't. Not at all. But that doesn't stop Tom from going after her, again and again, like a modern Don Quixote, with all his might and courage. Suddenly, Tom is in love not just with a lovely, witty, intelligent woman – not that he minds any of that -- but with the very idea of Summer, the very idea of a love that still has the power to shock the heart and stop the world.
The fuse is lit on Day 1 – when Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a would-be architect turned sappy greeting card writer encounters Summer (Zooey Deschanel), his boss's breezy, beautiful new secretary, fresh off the plane from Michigan. Though seemingly out of his league, Tom soon discovers he shares plenty in common with Summer. After all, they both love The Smiths. They both have a thing for the surrealist artist Magritte. Tom once lived in Jersey and Summer has a cat named Bruce. As Tom muses, "we're compatible like crazy."
By Day 31, things are moving ahead, albeit "casually." By Day 32, Tom is irreparably smitten, living in a giddy, fantastical world of Summer on his mind. By Day 185, things are in serious limbo -- but not without hope. And as the story winds backwards and forwards through Tom and Summer's on-again, off-again, sometimes blissful, often tumultuous dalliance it covers the whole dizzying territory from infatuation, dating and sex to separation, recrimination and redemption in a whirl of time jumps, split screens, karaoke numbers and cinematic verve – all of which adds up to a kaleidoscopic portrait of why, and how, we still struggle so laughably, cringingly hard to make sense of love... and to hopefully make it real. "
And thanks to Scott, take a look at these EXCLUSIVE first 3 pages from the script!
Click to Expand +/-
Philly people, (500) Days of Summer comes to Philly this Friday (July 24th) so go out and support Scott!
More at the film website HERE
More Glowing Reviews:
- http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090715/REVIEWS/907159997
- http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20291403,00.html
- http://omg.yahoo.com/news/moviemantz-review-500-days-of-summer/25298
Scott's Tip:
"If you're new in town (Los Angeles) or just starting out, there's a great organization called the Junior Hollywood Radio and Television Society. highly recommended."
More Penn alumni writers HERE
Read More......
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Today, I continue my Penn in Pictures series with great video of TV writer Sherri Cooper Landsman (C'94). Sherri got her start with a bantery screenplay Juliet Finkelstein Does The Hamptons, and has been working solidly ever since, working initially for Darren Star ("Miss Match") and then on "American Dreams". Now on "Brothers and Sisters", Sherri is a prolific writer, and has shouldered significant producing responsibilities, both in terms of re-writing other writers and in terms of the actual production of the episodes.
In the videos below, Sherri talks about:
- Her path from Penn to Columbia film school to Hollywood
- What short film she did in film school, how she got her short film turned into a feature film … and how she paid for her film! (you’ve got to hear this!)
- What she did when she moved back to LA
- What her first writing job was in LA
- What she does as a producer and writer on “Brothers and Sisters”
- What it’s like in the writer’s room, what it’s like shooting scenes and how many episodes the show has to do this year
A special thanks to editor David Chalfin (C'96), a fantastic editor living in Los Angeles who recorded and edited all the Penn in Pictures videos. Check out his reel here!
CATCH UP:
"ER" Medical consultant Zach Lutsky (C'97)
VIDEO: TV Writer Lew Schneider (C'83)
How DT can help you with your Entertainment Career in 8 Easy Steps
Other Penn writers here
Get email updates for upcoming Penn in Pictures posts!
Check out photos from past Penn in Pictures events!
Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page
New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!
See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com
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Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Yesterday, I posted video of TV writer (and Penn in Pictures') host Lew Schneider (C'83) talking about his beginnings in Hollywood.
Today, I continue my Penn in Pictures series with great video of Zach Lutsky (C'97). Not only is Zach an attending physician in Emergency Medicine at Cedars-Sinai medical Center, but he has worked as a medical consultant on:
- two cable shows, "Untold Stories of the ER" and "Diagnosis X"
- and is currently in his second season as an on-set medical technical advisor on "ER."
- Most recently, he also was the medical technical advisor on the new John Wells pilot, "LAPD."
A special thanks to editor David Chalfin (C'96), a fantastic editor living in Los Angeles who recorded and edited all the Penn in Pictures videos. Check out his reel here!
CATCH UP:
VIDEO: TV Writer Lew Schneider (C'83)
How DT can help you with your Entertainment Career in 8 Easy Steps
Get email updates for upcoming Penn in Pictures posts!
Check out photos from past Penn in Pictures events!
Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page
New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!
See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com
Friend Me Up:
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Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Yesterday I talked about this year's great Penn in Pictures event and how I will be posting videos from the event.
To start things off, check out the video above of TV writer Lew Schneider (C'83, Everybody Loves Raymond writer).
In the video, Lew talks about:
- His major at Penn, his time in Mask and Wig
- How her pursued a life in comedy as a stand-up, tv host, an actor and a TV writer
- How he transitioned from actor to writer and what shows he wrote for before landing his Everybody Loves Raymond gig
- What he's been doing since Raymond ended (including new pilots, a great animated show he wrote for, and his time now on New Adventures of Old Christine)
A special thanks to editor David Chalfin (C'96), a fantastic editor living in Los Angeles who recorded and edited all the Penn in Pictures videos. Check out his reel here!
Get email updates for upcoming Penn in Pictures posts!
Other Penn writers here
Check out photos from past Penn in Pictures events!
Join the new Dueling Tampons Facebook Fan page
New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!
See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com
Friend Me Up:
Facebook MySpace Friendster Twitter Digg Read More......
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Logan Levkoff (C'98, GSE'99, aka "Mistress Lola" in her undergrad 34th Street days) will be appearing at the Penn Bookstore on Friday Oct. 3rd at 4pm to talk about her book "Third Base Ain't What it Used to Be: What Your Kids are Learning About Sex Today - and How to Teach them to Become Sexually Healthy Adults". She'll be talking about life after Penn as well as her fight against this administration's (and McCaine's) war on sex.
...Logan not only published this book, but she is on a number of shows chiming in on the current state of sex education. Her work has been featured on countless shows and publications including Good Morning America, Oprah, The Today Show, and The New York Times.
In addition, she writes regular columns for Fit Pregnancy, POZ magazine, and MarieClaire.com. Check out her clip below from her appearance recently on Good Morning America.
Watch these other videos from Logan:
Talking Sex With Your KidsWomen should start carrying their own condoms
Get Logan's book Third Base Ain't What It Used to Be
Read how Logan got her start as a Sexologist (you'll be interested to find out about a very personal(!) article she wrote at Penn!)
More from her visit to Penn here
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Every Penn success story in Hollywood has an interesting beginning and the following is another must-read for ambitious undergrads and alumni looking to stand out and charter the entertainment waters.
Get the details on how Sonny Lee (C'03) became a TV staff writer for a popular show premiering this week!
Two years ago Sonny Lee’s (C'03, PennSix, Full Measure, Penn Admissions) job “sucked” so he took matters into his own hands which jump started his Hollywood writing career and soon began writing as a staff writer for It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. (he also acted in an episode called "Mac and Charlie Die: Part Two," where he played Quan, Danny DeVito's new potential roommate -see image below.)
Season Four premieres this Thursday, Sept. 18th on FX with Sonny's episode airing in the second back-to-back episode (10:30 pm) titled "The Gang Solves The Gas Crisis":
"Charlie, Mac and Dennis decide that since gas prices have doubled over the last year, why not buy up a bunch of gas now, store it in the bar for a year, and then sell it back for a huge profit? Meanwhile, Dee and Frank are convinced that Dee's biological father, Bruce Mathis, is funding terrorists when he donates to a local Muslim community center."
Click here to find out how Sonny took his career into his own hands!
...Then get Sonny's tips on being a TV writer here!
and more of my Tuesday Tips here!
Other Penn writers here!
Sonny's blog here
Catch up on all 3 seasons available for free here
New to DT? 14 easy suggestions to get started!
See which Penn undergrads and alumni are registered on DuelingTampons.com
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